Independent Films

Cormac Scanlan’s movie Hylozoism is a ‘Holistic Documentary’ which, whilst offering no answers, uses associational form to encourage its audience to ponder life's big questions. Alluding to topics as varied as psychology, philosophy, anthropology, urbanity and evolutionary biology, the film invites viewers to think about who we are and where we came from. Hylozoism asks questions about how are we connected to each other and our planet, ponders about where are we headed as species and examines our purpose as both an individual and a part in a larger society and history.

Loosely influenced by the artistic ideas of Guy Ernest Debord and the Situationist International movement, much of the film was made using the psychogeographical practice of dérive. Cormac Scanlan's form of psychogeography focuses on exploring urban and rural environments and using video and stills photography to reflect the emotions experienced at a location in the way it is artistically portrayed, as well as capturing the physical presence of the location itself.

Hylozoism was made over a period of 7 months between 2005 and 2006. All photography is original footage of a documentative nature (ie there was no setting up of scenarios, interfering with the subject, or altering the mise en scène) and all photography and video editing was done by Cormac Scanlan himself. The film features an original soundtrack, recorded specifically for the film, this was composed, performed and produced by Cormac Scanlan and Curtis Redden.

Cormac Scanlan's Photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ichor/

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Grønlapse is a short non-verbal landscape film of Greenland during the Arctic summer. Comprised of mostly time lapse imagery, the film documents movements in ice, glaciers, navigating fjords and also captures the arctic sky exploding with the Northern Lights. The main glacier featured is Jakobshavn near Illulissat, the largest glacier in the northern hemisphere, which is currently releasing more fresh water each day than New York city uses in an entire year.
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Fly is a non-verbal film with scenes of Singapore and Nepal. It was screened in various film festivals around the world and won 3rd Best Amateur Documentary in the Canadian Film Festival in 1999. Fly is shot on Super 8.

Credits

• Director & Producer: Alexis Lefort
• Editor: Lars Woodruffe
• Graphic Designer: Damien Yang
• Music composers: Dinesh Rai & Nigel Woodford
• Sound Mixer: Nigel Woodford

Links

• Listen to the full length tracks at myspace.com/foreignechoes

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A documentation of a journey made through India and Nepal between July and August 2008.  This experimental film uses photo sequences and some time-lapse and are arranged chronologically in order of time with recorded sound added.  The film running to 7:47 mins is an edited version of a 24 min film using approx 20,000 photographs.  Originally planed for hi definition the film has been edited to 4:3

Some of the photograph stills can be found on my flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/81569841@N00/

The videos available here are a short 7 minute version on YouTube, and a full 24 minute version on Vimeo.

Rob Bernard,  UK

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Sky Train is a 6 minute non-narrative film about Thailand, by Ryan Moser.

Sky Train beautifully uses panning, time-lapse and dreamy cloud sequences that fans of the films in the genre will be familiar with.  But, Ryan has captured the essence of each of his locations in Thailand.  From Bangkok's blurring night lights, scorching midday sunshine, and non-stop traffic, the film progresses nicely to the blue waters  and palm trees of the south.

There are great timelapse, Ron Fricke esque moments when the camera is racing around in a shopping trolley.

Sky Train is a great mixture of the gritty and glitzy side of Thailand.  With the fast paced streets, and claustrophobic soi, whilst avoiding the bland, dreamy tourist-board style panning shots.

The timelapse sequences recorded on foot are a little shaky, but considering the budget, it's still great work.

Well done Ryan.

From Ryan:Read more >>>

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This is a short documentary capturing a group photo-blog shoot with a concept of Urban Decay. The location is an abandoned warehouse in Gary, Indiana. We drove down from Chicago very early on a Sunday morning to be safe since the area is shady.

I used a Canon HV20 with Crystal Vision wide lens, Calico Cam stabilizer, and a Manfrotto fluid head on a tripod. None of this video was directed, just capturing the day of events. At the end you might notice all the "junk", it's piles and piles of clothes.

The audio track is Snowflake by TrentMoller.

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Timescape, Alexander Pappas homage to Ron Fricke, released in 2000, 5 minutes.
Timescape is a day in the life of a city. Set in a surreal atmosphere of constant chaos and continuous evolution.
It is the story of humans, and the empire that they have built.

From the Director

"The creation of Timescape was really a two part affair. Firstly, the matter of motion and time in context to daily life was the primary concept for this film.
Secondly was the span I wanted to show this in. From sunrise to sunset.
A span of approximately 12 hours, one working day, was the backdrop of the film because it gives the film purpose. All this chaos and movement .
And then it's all over. The day is gone, the sun has set and all is back to quiet.Read more >>>

360 is a six minute montage of moving images and sounds from around the world, set to music. The images and sounds for 360 were recorded using a consumer DV cam-corder, a stereo mic and a minidisk recorder and it was edited at home on a laptop. If you would like a free DVD or download for any software or hardware media player, or you would like to contact the film-maker, please email hopkinskyle@yahoo.co.uk. Hope you like it. Cheers!

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Bio.Rhythm is a six minute experimental film that examines the rhythms of this world. Our world is composed of a network of elaborate systems; in this case, these systems are expressed through sounds, which create rhythms, composing a "soundtrack" to these systems. The film was nominated by the Motion Picture Sound Editors Association (MPSE) for a "Golden Reel Award" in 2007. If you would like a DVD or higher quality download, please email me at kevin.klauber@usc.edu - Enjoy

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Dead Lonesome is a non-verbal film about ghost towns and the mystique of the western landscape.

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My love of time-lapse photography was born the day I first watched Baraka. More of my sequences can be seen on my website.

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Highway World is a non-visual film from filmaker Martin H. Schmitt. 

From Martin's website:Read more >>>

Time after Time, a film shot in Ireland, North America and Australia that celebrates the great heritage of ancient Celtic, American and Australian peoples. Time after Time is beautifully shot, its style comparable to other films found on this website.  Yet Time after Time has its own theme and style.

Time after Time is a film that highlights the great beauty and diversity of the landscapes and peoples of Ireland, North America and Australia.  The colourful landscapes of each of the countries is captured magnificently in Time after time.  The richness of colours gives a wonderful feel to the film.Read more >>>

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Ata Whenua- Shadowlands is a nonverbal film featuring the landscapes of New Zealand.  Shot in the south west corner of New Zealand, known as Fiordland.  Ata Whenua contains images of the landscapes and animals of the region, through a range of seasons and extremes.  The images are beautiful, crystal clear, and set to an impressive soundtrack.

Ata Whenua was created to bring to viewers a rare glimpse of the wilderness of the Fiordland National Park.  Few people get to see this beautiful but remote national park.  The film takes you on a journey, showing you sights you would never normally see.Read more >>>

Aeon is a non-verbal, non commercial film capturing the New Zealand city of Wellington.  Created by Richard Sidey, Aeon primarily uses time lapse cinematography, and is 13 minutes long.  Read more >>>